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Thanksgiving Day is the traditional American holiday when we are given the opportunity to pause from our normal routines and take time to count our blessings.

It can be a fun and refreshing time, full of family, feasts, and football.

For those who choose to acknowledge God as the Great Giver of all that is good in our lives, Thanksgiving Day can be a spiritually uplifting and enriching experience.

And for those whose lives have been upended by unforeseen tragedies, such as the loved ones of innocent people so tragically taken from them by ghastly crimes since our last Thanksgiving, as well as those whose hearts are heavy from grief, illness, loneliness, or financial stress, let us pray that Thanksgiving can help them understand that good is never totally conquered or permanently extinguished. May they feel the comforting touch of God’s “tender mercies” (Psalm 145:9 et al.).

To varying degrees, all of us grapple at times with the problem of whether the glass is half empty or half full in our lives. Thanksgiving helps draw our attention in the happier direction. When tempted to become depressed from news reports highlighting ugly incidents or hateful divisions in our society, we can console or even cheer ourselves by giving thanks for all the good that surrounds us.

To many onlookers, evangelical support for Roy Moore is simply a matter of politics.

The U.S. Senate candidate, accused of making unwanted sexual advances to nine women when they were teens and he was in his 30s, is seen by many evangelicals — who are overwhelmingly Republican — as one of them.

“He is nothing but a godly man trying to make this country come to its senses because of liberals and the other side of the fence trying to protect their evil ways,” an evangelical supporter of Moore recently told a reporter at Jackson, Ala.’s Walker Springs Road Baptist Church.

But political experts, historians, and religion scholars say there are deeper explanations for why the former judge appears poised to become the next senator from heavily Republican Alabama during Dec. 12’s special election. Yes, politics is a big part of it, but so too is a particular way evangelicals engage with the world around them.

Conservative Christians, said Molly Worthen, a historian of American religion at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, have developed an intellectual strategy for engaging with the public called “presuppositionalism.”

It holds that evangelicals should examine other people’s underlying suppositions before debating them. If those people or groups don’t adhere to the right worldview — one that accepts the Bible as the inerrant word of God — they should not be trusted.

The argument, said Worthen, goes like this: “When secular liberals say that the public square can be this neutral space, fair to all metaphysical beliefs, that’s a lie, because folded into that it is a secular humanist worldview, a set of anti-Christian presuppositions that are now being foisted onto our public square. You, as conservative evangelicals, need to fight that, and you need to be savvy when they try to pull one over on you.”

Worthen credits Francis Schaeffer (1912-1984), the widely influential evangelical theologian, best known for his crusading opposition to abortion, as the architect of this way of thinking.

The Washington Post — which broke the story about four women who allegedly had sexual encounters with Moore while in their teens — is deeply distrusted by many evangelicals, who see it a secular media outlet with a liberal bias — one of many.

President Donald Trump, in his rush to label any news coverage unsympathetic to his administration and his performance as “fake news” has unwittingly tapped into this long tradition of evangelical intellectual resistance, she said. Evangelicals distrusted the media long before it became politically expedient to do so.

That evangelical tradition of resistance to a secular way of thinking has become part and parcel of Alabama’s culture, said Jason Roberts, a professor of political science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

“Alabamians are very prideful and very defiant about their being different from anyone else,” said Roberts, who grew up in Falkville, Ala. “They’re not ashamed of being different. They’re not ashamed of being made fun of.”

For that reason, Roberts said, blowback from Washington political leaders such as Republican Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who said Moore should “step aside,” is unlikely to affect the campaign.

Alabama evangelicals admire Roy Moore and not only for refusing to remove a Ten Commandments monument from the Alabama Judicial Building in Montgomery, which houses the state Supreme Court. Moore has been a dogged champion of greater religious freedom for evangelicals. He is a staunch opponent of abortion and same-sex marriage and talks of privileging Christianity as the country’s preeminent religion — all positions favored by conservative evangelicals around the country.

There are many vocal critics of Moore, including Russell Moore (no relation), the chief ethicist for the Southern Baptist Convention; Ed Stetzer, executive director of the Billy Graham Center, at Wheaton College; and several prominent evangelical women such as Kay Warren, Beth Moore and Nancy French.

But in the main, evangelical voters in Alabama are expected to support Moore.

“For these evangelicals politics serves a purpose,” said John Fea, professor of American history at Messiah College. “It’s a means toward a more moral end: reclaiming American as a Christian country, end Roe vs. Wade and gay marriage, go back to a Christian golden age.”

That’s not to say Moore is invincible.

Even in Alabama, where half the residents consider themselves evangelical Christians — double the national average, according to a Pew Research study — Moore has struggled to win hearts and minds in past elections. In 2006 and 2010, he lost the Republican primary in the race for governor of Alabama.

It’s possible some evangelicals may switch their longstanding Republican allegiance and vote for Democrat Doug Jones, a prominent lawyer who has prosecuted several high-profile civil rights cases.

But given Jones’ views on abortion — he opposes any restrictions on abortion — it’s unlikely many would.

Instead, some evangelicals will sit out the election. There’s no other consequential issue on the ballot, so it may be easier for some to stay home, said Roberts.

Those evangelicals who do go to the polls will likely vote for Moore.

“When (people) face really tough choices, the tie-breaker will be partisanship,” said John C. Green, political science professor and director of the Bliss Institute of Applied Politics at the University of Akron.

“Sometimes that’s just instinctive. It can also be cognitive. They’ll say, ‘Jones is a better candidate, but he’ll go to Washington and caucus with the liberals,’ or ‘Moore may be a flawed human being but he’ll be a Republican vote….Their religious values and their political views are strongly linked.”

When you go to the polls remember – 1-In politics you have to choose who stands for American and Christian values 2- I am not electing a Pastor 3-all have sinned 4-What horrible sins have I done in the past

Forgiveness Revival Editor’s Note- Recently I opened my email and found a letter from a Missionary’s Kid that really touched my heart. I am sure after reading it your heart will be touched also. So many times we do not know the hurt that our children feel when as a Pastor, Evangelist, or Missionary Kid they suffer attacks or see attacks on their family from supposedly Saints of God or church people. In many cases when one come’s to the Lord Jesus Christ and is filled with the Holy Spirit. They receive a powerful experience. Because of their respect of the man of God that revealed to them this wonderful experience with God, they then turn to their Overseer and will follow any teaching that they teach even becoming a Pharisee which Jesus Christ warned against. Matthew 23:13 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves. I hate to reveal this but many of our early Minister’s could not read when they first came to God. As a result of this many began to preach their private interpretation of the Word of God sometimes even their own personal convictions that others had to keep as salvation issues. If you did not keep their commandments you were lost and many times judged. Forgiveness would sometimes be forgotten by those that followed the Pharisee walk even though those that were children of God had been forgiven. One of these ideas was that if a Minister fell he could never get back up and continue in the ministry even though the Word of God in Romans 11:29 states that the gifts and calling of God is without repentance. (turning away from)

During my tenure as a Pastor I forgave many former ministers that had fallen and tried to help them get back on their feet and fight Satan one more time. Some turn out well other’s tried to cut my throat, but the most important thing was I forgave them. You will not go wrong when you make forgiveness the most important ingredient in your walk with God. My Pastor Robert Glass spoke to me about forgiving and his statement was,” Brother Duke, the hardest ones to forgive are your Brothers and Sisters in the Lord and they are the ones that will hurt you most.” It did not take me long to find that out and it probably will not take you long either. My prayer is that what this Missionary Kid went through might prepare other Missionary kids. God bless all of our Missionaries.

Here is a copy of that letter:

February 21st 12:00 a.m. I was awakening by a strong presence in my room. I am not able to explain in words the feeling I was experiencing. So I won’t even make the attempt to explain. As I laid there I began to pray for Gods help because of the overwhelming guilt that I’ve experienced, due to my shortfalls in my walk with & without God Almighty. I was brought up in a home of a Pentecostal preacher and experienced & seen wide ranges of standards – beliefs – and in many cases, very judgmental views within the Pentecostal churches. I truly believe in the message that the UPC teaches. Yet through all of the good, there is a large gap in the area of forgiveness, towards struggling brothers & sisters in the Lord. I felt impressed in my heart, that revival or lack thereof is predicated on how we look at people. Judging the book by its cover, if I may. I want to share a couple of life experiences that I (Missionary kid) have witnessed, while traveling around the country with my parents. As a very young boy, I was observant to things that were said and or happened while visiting Pentecostal churches. Here are a couple examples that plague me and disturb my mind. I recall one incident when a church either cancelled or did not except our invitation to be with them while on deputation. It was all about perception, and not the condition of a person’s heart or walk with God. The minister said that the photo of my parents looked like my mother had cut her hair. This never was the case and was very detrimental to our family. This was said to other ministers and of course this went around to other churches. Unfortunately as we all know, bad news travels fast and in many cases believed by many. Another incident that stands out and bothers me to this day, was when an assistant pastor had got divorced (no fault of his own) yet many churches condemned him and would not allow him to preach in their churches. We have ministers that have fallen from the grace of God and later come back to Pentecostal church only to be shunned. It is a bigger problem than most ministers want to accept. You’re alienated from the click. We serve a mighty God that forgives us daily, yet our churches refused to do so, in many cases. We must be cognate that God forgives us at the same measure we are willing to forgive others.

I often wonder how the Apostle Paul, Apostle Peter, Danial, King David, Jonah & others would fair in our organization after their sinful acts, Denial of Jesus and running from God. Why do we make it more difficult to come back to our Lord and Savior “Jesus Christ” than God himself does? I promise if compassion was given and welcoming arms were stretched out for the hurting and those that stumble and the judgmental spirit would subside we could help many souls return home. I speak from experience. I feel God spoke to my heart and this is why I am writing. To have revival, God impressed on my hearts it must start with forgiveness of others and restrain from being judgmental even to the extent of placing our personal convictions on one another. If it’s not biblical then it shouldn’t be forced on to others. As I said earlier, you cannot judge a book by its cover. I know many individuals with beautiful long hair; dresses to their ankles, yet carry a very nasty spirits (attitude) condemning fellow saints because they don’t dress like them. And I’ve seen others not dressed so prim & proper, praising and worshiping God Almighty & carrying a beautiful spirit. Why is this? Maybe it’s what is on the inside (of the book). Don’t take this wrong. I believe in holiness standard. Not man made standards. I am not much of a writer but felt I had to say this, in hope this falls in the right hands. I don’t even have a clue who to send this too at this point but I’m tired of running from God and want to do his will in my life. I have never been wakened from a deep sleep with such a strong presence in my room as has just happened to me. I do ask for all the prayers of the saints and ministry that I may be used of God and that I may impact someone to serve the One and only True God “Jesus”. May God do a work in the last days, and my prayer is that I may help harvest the field and not continue to bury my talent. I want to win family and friends. If we can only show compassion and forgiveness revival will come to our churches. I know this is a word from the Lord. I know this because of the power I felt in my bedroom that woke me from a deep sleep. I have not served the Lord like I should but God knows my heart better than I even do. Right now my heart is heavy with grief of my past and shamefulness of what I’ve done in my life. I want to do his will moving forward. Please pray for my family & I God Bless you all,

IN CLOSING PLEASE NOTE THAT THE BEST WAY FOR OTHER’S TO DESIRE YOUR STANDARDS ARE FOR THEM TO BE SEEN AND NOT FORCED DOWN THEIR THROATS AND THAT YOU HAVE A SPIRIT THAT IS OF GOD (SWEET SWEET SPIRIT)

In my early childhood I was raised near Flomaton, Alabama. I remember when I was around 11 or 12 I was attending Sunday School at the First Baptist Church in Flomaton. I really appreciate the Baptist in regards to the teaching that one needs to read and Learn the word of God. It was from the study of the word of God that allowed me to accept the full gospel message of the bible. It was Sunday morning just before class that I walked up to my teacher and asked about a scripture I was having a problem with in the book of Mark. It was the following scripture Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. 17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. I looked at the teacher and asked “What does they shall speak with new tongues mean?” He examined the whole chapter and replied, ” I do not know but I will ask the Pastor.” Weeks later I went back up to the teacher and asked if he had found out about the scripture and he looked at me and said, “You don’t curse or talk nasty anymore!” Well at 12 that answer seemed feasible, but years later I happened to attend a Pentecostal Church and saw and heard them speaking in tongues and how their lives were changed after receiving the Acts 2 experience. Well I did not become one of them but I did believe they were correct and later witnessed to my wife about this experience. So when we came to America and I was discharged at Eglin Air Force Base I decided to take her to visit a Pentecostal Church in ort Walton Beach, Florida. She thought they were crazy and said I wont be going back to one of those. Years later she did go back on a Sunday morning in Pensacola, Florida and when I got off duty as a Police officer I came into the house and she ran up to me and informed me that we were going back to one of those Holy Roller churches. I looked at her and asked her, “What’s wrong with you? “She said well I went back to one this morning and I felt something there I have never felt before and we are going tonight. We went to Church that night and when the altar call was made we both were feeling the power of God all over us. She looked over at me and said let’s go down to the front and I crossed my arms and backed up and said No I am not going down there. She went and within 10 minutes she was filled with the Holy Spirit and was speaking in tongues as the Spirit of God gave the utterance. 3 days later she called up a sister in the church and told her Dot, you know what happened to me the other night? Dot said yes you received the Holy Ghost. Carol said well I am still doing it. For the next 2 years I turned away from going to church and made it hard on Carl to go, but one night while getting ready for work God literally spoke to me and it scared me to death. I fell on my knees and began to repent, For 6 months I sought for what Carol received in 10 minutes. After being filled with his Spirit God changed my life. Later after many of my 3 person Trinity friends kept telling me I was wrong going to a Jesus only church, i began to pray and ask God for guidance and let me know who he really was? One day at dinner I bowed my head to pray and God spoke to me as I bowed my head and said,” God’s all over the world havea name, What’s my name? I spoke out Jesus, and it all unfolded in my mind that Jesus Christ was the Father in creation, the Sonin redemption, and the Holy Spirit that had come into my life. Not 3 persons but 3 manifestations. I knew then that God was in Christ and all the fullness of the Godhead dwelt in him. Now read my story of how I came to Jesus Christ. Guns to the Gospel

Many people use this anomaly to support the idea that we should allow people of a religion into our country that supports the killing of infidels. Of course let me explain that Christians and other non believers are the infidels So weak minded and uneducated in theology they attempt to appear humble by using the terminology of,” Well they are all gods children”, to cause other people to feel humiliated for their actions of protecting our society. The fact is, yes they are all god’s children? But the real question is, Which god or God I should say. Note that I use the word god and God. I use the word god when I am speaking about the god of this world but I use the word God when I speak about the God that created this world. Yes there is only one God, but there are many god’s and Satan is the chief or head of all these little god,s. Listen to what the Apostle Paul said in 2 Corinthians 4:4 “In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”. First of all man is born in sin as the bible suggests by the Psamist. Psalms 51:5 – Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. Psalms 58:3 – The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies. So really we are not the children of God but rather the children of man born in sin. If we are to become the real children of God we must obey John 3 and Acts 2. Read it and weep for all those that are not the children of God. John Chapter 3:1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? 5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. Acts 2:36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. 37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. 40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. 41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

Let God heal your mind and strengthen your understanding today and know that evil is evil and good is of God.

Yerington Nevada PIM

Wit with some kick

Pastor Dukes Book now
published on Amazon and Kendle
Proceeds to be used to
pioneer new work in Yerington NV.
Sister Carol Dukes Book now
published on Amazon

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Please do not assume that a link to an author or a ministry implies our agreement with, or support of, that entity. Even the article or item itself may not agree with the editor's views. We trust our readers to discern the truth for themselves. Our purpose here is to make known to Christian leaders the issues of the day, and point to articles that may shed light on what others are thinking about an issue or subject.